Teeth Whitening

Over time teeth get stained, discolored or dull. When this happens teeth whitening is an effective option to restore a dazzling white smile. 

But why do our teeth get discolored? 

-Food and Drink: There is a protein in certain foods and drinks that is attracted to a tooth's enamel. Foods such as coffee, tea, red wine, and berries have been found to stain teeth. 

-Age: Over time, the white enamel of our teeth dissipates and the softer, yellow under layer (called dentin) begins to show through.

-Medication: A side effect of certain medicines is the darkening of teeth.

-Tobacco: The tar and nicotine found in tobacco products such as cigarettes both stain teeth. 

-Trauma: If you have dental trauma it is possible that your body, when reacting to the injury, began sending more dentin to the area, making the tooth appear discolored.

-Fluorosis: An overexposure to fluoride when young can cause the permanent teeth to be discolored.

Whitening agents are another viable option, and have been shown to improve the color of your teeth, however they only work on a handful of stains. Bleaching agents, for example typically are unable to remove stains that are brown or gray in color. In general whitening agents are also not able to remove stains as well when the patient has dental restorations such as crowns, fillings, or bridges and severely discolored or pitted teeth. It is important to mention that over-the-counter tooth whitening options can be moderately effective only when they are closely monitored and the instructions are followed to the letter.

Professional whitening is widely recognized as being not only the safest, but also the most effective method. When done properly by professionals, a professional tooth whitening can last a patient up to five years.